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Convicted Dealer’s Sentencing Delayed

A Pennsylvania sports card dealer found guilty of taking money from customers across the country but not delivering the merchandise he sold on eBay will be sentenced January 4.

Roger Lee Hooper of Mechanicsburg had been scheduled to learn his fate Monday but a continuance was granted.

On October 1, Hooper was found guilty of selling altered or non-genuine sports memorabilia, capping an investigation by Cumberland County (PA) authorities that led to the charges.

Hooper, who ran an auction company and sold cards and autographs via eBay, likely faces a prison term of at least one year.

Hooper was found guilty of two counts of deceptive business practices and one count each of theft by deception and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

The guilty verdict capped an investigation into Hooper’s business activities that began in 2007. Detectives say they found evidence that Hooper was selling wax packs of sports cards that had been re-sealed after the best cards had been removed. He’d also been accused of selling bogus autographs. Hooper claimed he was unaware of any problems with the material he was selling.

Unopened pack expert Steve Hart of Baseball Card Exchange and autograph authenticator James Spence were among those who testified during the trial.

Ned Kerstetter, a former friend said claimed Hooper took advantage of him by using his eBay account to sell merchandise but failed to deliver authentic items, resulting several complaints from collectors who were out thousands of dollars. Kerstetter claims he spent over $50,000 of his own money to make restitution after Hooper refused to address the complaints.

About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for more than 30 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected].